Thomas c



(No Model.)

T. C. BROWN.

INDEX.

No. 299.338. Patented May 27, 1884.

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THOMAS o. BROWN, or NORBORNE, MISSOURI.

INDEX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 299,338, dated May 2'7, 1884.

(No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. BROWN, of Norborne, in the county of Carroll and State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Index, of which the following is a full,

clear', and exact description.

The objectof my invention is to provide a new and improved index for journals, ledgers, prescriptioules, lettenfiles, and other books, which index is very handy and contains a great number of names in a very small space.

The invention consists in a box provided in its front with a series of longitudinal slots, through which index-sheets pass, which are secured to spring-rollers journaled in the box, on which rollers the sheets are wound as soon as released, and from which they can easily be unwound by simply drawing them outward.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure l is afront view of my improved index. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation of the same on the line x x, Fig. l. Fig 3shows detail Views of one end of an ordinary springroller.

A box, A, made wider at the bottom than at the top, has its top B inclined upward from the rear toward the front and hinged to the back. The front C is provided witha series of equidistant longitudinal slots, Dwidened toward the outer surface of the front to form' grooves E. A series of spring-rollers, F, are

3 5 Ajournaled in suitable bearings within the case,

as shown in Fig. 2, as many rollers F being provided as there are slots D. On each roller a sheet, G, of strong paper-musliu, Ste., is fastened, and to the outer edge of each strip or sheet G a Slat, H, is fastened, which iits in a groove, E', and is provided with a handlei ring, J, or equivalent device. Sheets fastened to the rollers or pasted on the fabric sheets are ruled and divided into vertical columns, on which the names are written with the corresponding page of the ledger, journal, tc. The initial letters of the names on each sheet are produced on the. front of the corresponding Slat, H. A sheet may be provided for each letter, or several sheets may be pro vided for each letter, or one sheet may be provided for several letters.

The operation is as follows: If a certain name is desired, the slat H of the sheet containing the said letters is seized and drawn outward, whereby the sheet will be unwound and can be drawn out of the casing, so that the name and the corresponding page-number can be found. As soon as the sheet is released .and slightly pulled the spring-roller winds it up again in the same manner that acurtain is wound on its roller. Any number of rollers can be contained in one casing, and the sheets can be made any suitable width and length.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letter Patent, is-

1. An index made substantially as herein shown and described, and consisting of abox, casing, or frame containing a series of springrollers to-which the index-sheets are fastened and on which they are wound, as set forth.

2. In an index, the combination, with abox having its front slotted and grooved longitudinally, of spring-rollers journaled in the said box, index-sheets secured to the said rollers and passing through the slots, and slats secured on the outer ends of the sheets, substantially as herein shown and described.

THOMAS C. BROWN. 

